Boat-propelling mechanism



Sept. 27, 1927.

J. BAKER BOAT PROPELLING MECHANI SM 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Feb.l1, 1927 I INVENTOR. 121 1 X I l A E152 A 927 J. BAKER BOAT PROPELLING HECKANISM Filed Fb. 11. 1927 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR. JO; ,BCJ e 7;

A TTORNEYS.

Patented Sept. 27, 1927.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

JOHN BAKER, OF BROOKLYN, NEW YORK.

BOAT-PROPELLING MECHANISM.

Application filed February 11, 1927. Serial No. 167,549.

5 operation of a pair of ordinary oars.

A third important object of the invention is to provide an improved sprocket chaln drive for devices of this class. v

WVith the above and other objects in view as will be hereinafter apparent, the invention consists in general of certain novel details of construction and combinations of parts hereinafter fully described, illustrated in the accompanying drawings and specifically claimed. 7

In the accompanying drawings like characters of reference indicate like parts in the several views, and: Y

Figure 1 is a longitudinal section through a boat showing one side thereof equipped with the invention.

Figure 2 is an enlarged cross section of the boat on the line 22 of Figure 1.

, Figure 3 is an enlarged plan view of one of the devices.-

Figure at is-a side elevation of; such device with a certain bearing bracket broken away to show the parts behind the same. I

Figure 5 is a detail view showing how an ordinary stern propeller may be used in connection with the device.

For the purpose of illustrating the invention there has here been disclosed a boat B of conventional form and it will be seen from an inspection of Figure 2 that one of these devices is attached to the boat on the inner face of each side; Each of the, devices,

- in the embodiment here shown, consists of a base by which it is secured to the boat side. On the inner side of each base there is mounted a U-shaped bearing bracket 11 preferably of heavy strap iron and fixed in the base is a bearing bushing 12 for the reception of a shaft 13 having reduced ends which fit this bushing and in a suitable opening in the bracket 11. On this shaft is a fly-wheel. base 10 is a pair of brackets 29 which supsprocket wheel 14:. Similarly, at the other end of the base there is provided a bearing bushing 15 and a shaft 16 is journaled in the bracket 11 and in the bushing 15 to project beyond the bushing as shown at 17, the boat side. having an opening at this point to per mit the shaft to pass therethrough. This projecting shaft end 17 carries a paddle wheel or propeller 18. In the form shown in Figure 5 it will be seen that the shaft 17 may be geared to a lognitudinally extending shaft 19 supported in a bearing bracket 20 and carrying a standard screw propeller 21, they gearing connectionbeing by means of bev-eledgears 22. Thus, either a paddle propeller or screw propeller may be used with the invention. On the shaft 16 is fixed a sprocket 23 which is connected by a sprocket chain 24 with the sprocket 14:. Adjacent the shaft 16 the base is provided with still another bearing bushing 25 and a shaft 26 is journaled in this bushing and in the bracket 11. On this shaft 26 is mounted a fly-wheel 27 to which is fixed a sprocket 28 engaged by the chain 24: so that movement of this chain revolves the sprocket 28 and drives the Fixed to the inner side of the port idler pulleys 30 arranged in pairs with the planes passing through the axes of the pairs inclined downwardly away from each other so that the pulleys may be said to be positioned at the angles of a trapezoid. The two upper pulleys are arranged close to the upper run of the chain 24 and over the four pulleys passes a sprocket chain 31, the upper run of which is parallel to and close against the underside of the upper run of the chain 24. Each of the links of the chain 31 carries a long tooth 32 which projects up through the links of the chain 24: in passing along the upper run of the chain 31 and gradually moves into and out of the projecting position byreason of the inclinationof the pairs of pulleys.

Fixed on the inner side of the bracket 11 opposite the upper run of the chain 31 is a bracket 33 whereon is mounted for movement about a vertical axis a ball and socket joint 34 whereof the ball carries the outboard arm 35 and the inboard arm 36 of an oar like lever terminating inwardly in a handle 37. The outboard arm 35 is shaped to fit between the teeth 32 in their upwardly projecting positions and it will be seen that by operating the lever after the fashion of an oar the arm 35 engages the teeth 32 and moves the chain 2 f so that its upper run moves in a forward direction. It will also be seen that this lever is automatically released from the teeth 32 as they move downwardly out of projected position. Obviously, as the chain 24 is thus niovedthe fly-Wheel 27 will be rotated and the shaft 17 will be likewise rotated so that the propeller will be driven. Thus, by pulling on the oar like leverin the usual manner con'nnon to such devices the boat is driven ahead, the fly-Wheels on the two sides storing up energy and deliveringthe saine during the return strokes of the levers. I

There has thus been provided a sin p'le and efficient device of the kind described and for the purpose specified.

It is obvious that minor changes may be made in thefo'rrn and construction of the invention Without departing from the material spirit thereof", It is not, therefore, desired to confine the invention to the exact form herein shown and described, but it is desired to include all such as properly come Within the scope claimed. r 7

Having thus described the invention, What is claimed as new, is: r

1. In a boat propelling mechanism, an endless chain arranged for operative connection to a boat propeller, a second endless chain adjacent the first and having sp' ced lingers, said chains being arranged to cause the path of one chain to approach and recede flOll'l one portion of the path of the other chain and thereby cause the fingers to project through the links of the first chain, and an oscillatory lever fulcruinedadjacent the chains and having an end positionedto engage the fingers projecting through the first chain to move said chains. I

2. In a boat propelling mechanism, a pair of spaced sprocket Wheels, an endless chain carried by said sprocket Wheels, a shaft Whereon one of saidsprockets is fixed and constituting a propeller drive shaft,a second endless chain, Wheels over \vhichsaid second chain runs, two of said last Wheels being close to one portion of the path of the first chain to cause a portion ofthe path of the second chain to lie. parallel to the corre spondingrportion of the first path and adjacent thereto, fingers carried by the second chain and projecting through the lin is of the firstv chain during their passage along the portion of the second chain path adjacent the first chain path,ian'd an oscillatory lever fulcrunied adjacent said chains and having an end engaging the fingers upon their PIO- jection through the first chain".

3. In a boat ropelling mechanism, a pair of s aced sprocketwheels, endless chain carried by said sprocket Wheels, a shaft Whereon one of said sprocket-s is fixed and constituting a propeller drive shaft, a second endlesschain, Wheels over Which said second Chainruns, two of said last Wheels being close to one portion of the path'of the first chain to cause a portion of thepath of the second chain to lie parallel to the corresponding portion of the first pathand adjacent thereto, fingers carried by thesecond chain and projecting through the links of the first chain during their passage along the portion of the second chain path adjacent the first chain path, a lever having an end adapted to engage the fingers upon their projection through the first chain, and a universally jointed fulcrun'i supporting said lever adjacent the chains. I

l. Ina boat propelling mechanism, a pair of spaced sprocket wheels, an endless chain carried by said, sprocket wheels, a shaft whet-eon one, of, said sprockets is fixed and constituting a propeller drive shaft, a second endless chain,-vvheels over which said second chain runs, tvvo of said last Wheels being close to one portionof thepath of the first chainto cause a portion of the path of the second chain to lie parallel to the corre sponding portion of the first path and adjacent thereto, fingers carried by the second chain and projecting through the links of the first chain during their passage along the portion of the second chain path adjacent the firstchain path, an oscillatory lever f'ulcruined adjacent said chains and having an end engaging the fingers upon their projection through the first chain, and a sy- Wheel driven by thefirst chain,

5. In a boat propelling mechanism, apair of spaced sprocket wheels, an endless chain carried by said sprocket Wheels, a shaft Whereon one of saidsprockets is fixed and constituting a propeller drive shaft, a second endless chain, Wheels over Whichsaid second chain runs, tWo of said last Wheels being close to one portion of the path of the first chain to cause a portion of the path of the second chain to lie parallel to the corrcsponding portion of the first path and adj acentthereto, fingers carried by the second chain and projecting through the links of the first chain duringth'eir passage along the portion ,ofthe second chain path adjacent the first chain path, a lever havi an nd adapt-ed to n agethefingers upontlieir projection through the first chain, a universally jointed fulcrum supportin said lever ad acent the chains, and a fly-wheel driven In" testimony whereof i afiix my sense;

JOHN BAKER 

